Blog #2 Learning Literacy Through Music

I learned how to sing and talk simultaneously. My mom was a kindergarten teacher and a music and drama teacher. I loved listening to her play the guitar. When I was first learning how to speak she taught me chants and songs to learn how to articulate my words. One song was “Hickety -Tickety Bumble Bee”. This song teaches children how to say their name different ways, such as stretching your name like an elastic band or putting it in an elevator. This game helps children to be able to break down the individual sounds in words. She often played her guitar with me and we created songs to go along with stories. For example we put music to Robert Musch “Love You Forever” (1995) and we used to sing it together. We also had a rich library of children’s music books, so ‘tracking’ and reading my favourite songs on the musical score was as natural as reading text. Reading music seemed as much a life long skill as reading stories. This was a very special way for me to start learning about music, letter sounds and literature. As a future teacher I want to implement music in my classroom to inspire children to learn about language.

Photo of my mom accompanying students on the guitar for a school concert.

Photo of me when I was a baby. I am clapping along to music.

In elementary school I began taking singing and piano lessons. I completed my grade 6 Royal Conservatory of Music examination in singing. I performed in choirs and was in my high school band. Music taught me that literacy involves more than reading a book. Music can be seen as a language in itself. You learn how to read and interpret sheet music and perform. As a teacher this has taught me there are different forms of literacy that I would like to teach my students.      

References

Musch, R. (1995). Love you forever. Toronto, ON: Firefly Books